The Frankfurt and Rhine-Main R&D ecosystem
Frankfurt and Rhine-Main is ranked number 29 of 392 R&D ecosystems in the 311 Institute directory, with 64 labs within about 120 kilometres: 40 research institutes, 17 government, 5 university, 1 corporate and 1 intergovernmental. Leading organisations include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Max Planck Society, Leibniz Association and Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, focused on genetics, pulmonary and respiratory medicine, molecular biology and cognitive neuroscience.
Part of the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory. Compiled by Matthew Griffin. Last updated .
#29world rank
64labs
42organisations
1country
Why these labs matter
ESOC: Controls Europe's spacecraft.
All 64 labs
| Lab and organisation | Location | Type and sector | Focus | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| main incubatorCommerzbank | Frankfurt, Germany | Corporate Financial services | Fintech, Emerging technology | 2013 |
| Federal Institute of HydrologyFederal Institute of Hydrology | Koblenz, Germany | Government Environment and climate | Pollution, Water Science and Technology, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis | 1949 |
| Fraunhofer IESE (Experimental Software Engineering)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Kaiserslautern, Germany | Government Technology | Software, Digital twins | |
| Fraunhofer IGD (Computer Graphics Research)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Darmstadt, Germany | Government Technology | Graphics, XR | |
| Fraunhofer IMM (Microengineering and Microsystems)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Mainz, Germany | Government Chemicals and materials | Microsystems, Chemistry | |
| Fraunhofer ISC (Silicate Research)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Würzburg, Germany | Government Chemicals and materials | Glass, Batteries | |
| Fraunhofer ITMP (Translational Medicine and Pharmacology)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Frankfurt, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Drug discovery | |
| Fraunhofer ITWM (Industrial Mathematics)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Kaiserslautern, Germany | Government Technology | Simulation, AI | |
| Fraunhofer IWKS (Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Hanau, Germany | Government Chemicals and materials | Recycling, Critical materials | |
| Fraunhofer LBF (Structural Durability and System Reliability)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Darmstadt, Germany | Government Industrials and manufacturing | Reliability | |
| Fraunhofer SIT (Secure Information Technology)Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Darmstadt, Germany | Government Technology | Cybersecurity | |
| Helmholtz Institute MainzGSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research | Mainz, Germany | Government Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics | 2009 |
| GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion ResearchHelmholtz Association | Darmstadt, Germany | Government Basic science | Heavy ion physics | 1969 |
| Hessian Ministry for Science and the ArtsHessian Ministry for Science and the Arts | Wiesbaden, Germany | Government Social sciences and humanities | Conservation, Information Systems, Literature and Literary Theory | 1984 |
| Hessische Institut für LandesgeschichteHessische Institut für Landesgeschichte | Marburg, Germany | Government Social sciences and humanities | Geography, Planning and Development, Literature and Literary Theory, Building and Construction | |
| Institut für Geschichtliche Landeskunde Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.Institut für Geschichtliche Landeskunde Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. | Mainz, Germany | Government Social sciences and humanities | Language and Linguistics, Linguistics and Language, Atmospheric Science | 1960 |
| Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience Heidelberg-MannheimNational Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience | Mannheim, Germany | Government Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience | 2010 |
| Stiftung Rheinland-Pfalz für InnovationStiftung Rheinland-Pfalz für Innovation | Mainz, Germany | Government Multidisciplinary research | Research | 1991 |
| Cardio-Pulmonary InstituteGoethe University Frankfurt | Giessen, Germany | University Healthcare and life sciences | Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Surgery, Genetics | |
| Max Planck Graduate CenterJohannes Gutenberg University Mainz | Mainz, Germany | University Chemicals and materials | Organic Chemistry, Biomaterials, Polymers and Plastics | |
| Institut für Oberflächen- und Schichtanalytik GmbHRheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau | Kaiserslautern, Germany | University Industrials and manufacturing | Computational Mechanics, Surfaces, Coatings and Films, Spectroscopy | 1989 |
| Hessian Center for Artificial IntelligenceTechnische Universität Darmstadt | Darmstadt, Germany | University Technology | Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Information Systems | |
| Complexity and Topology in Quantum MatterTechnische Universität Dresden | Würzburg, Germany | University Basic science | Condensed Matter Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Materials Chemistry | 2019 |
| ESOCEuropean Space Agency | Darmstadt, Germany | Intergovernmental Aerospace, defence and space | Mission control | 1967 |
| Battelle-Institut evBattelle-Institut ev | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Spectroscopy | 1920 |
| Wehrwissenschaftliches Institut für Werk- und BetriebsstoffeBundeswehr | Koblenz, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering | 1997 |
| Cardiovascular Center BethanienCardiovascular Center Bethanien | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Surgery | 1978 |
| Cardiovascular Center FrankfurtCardiovascular Center Frankfurt | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Epidemiology | |
| Curt Engelhorn Centre ArchaeometryCurt Engelhorn Centre Archaeometry | Mannheim, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Paleontology, Archeology, Atmospheric Science | 2004 |
| German Center for Lung ResearchDeutsche Zentren der Gesundheitsforschung | Giessen, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Physiology, Surgery | 2011 |
| Deutscher WetterdienstDeutscher Wetterdienst | Offenbach, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Atmospheric Science, Oceanography, Aerospace Engineering | 1952 |
| Ernst Strüngmann Institute for NeuroscienceErnst Strüngmann Institute for Neuroscience | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology | 2008 |
| Facility for Antiproton and Ion ResearchFacility for Antiproton and Ion Research | Darmstadt, Germany | Research institute Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Radiation, Aerospace Engineering | 2010 |
| Forschungsinstitut für biologischen LandbauForschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Agriculture and food | Plant Science, Environmental Chemistry, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences | |
| Frankfurt Institute for Advanced StudiesFrankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Cognitive Neuroscience, Astronomy and Astrophysics | 2003 |
| Fraunhofer Research Institution for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies IWKSFraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research | Alzenau in Unterfranken, Germany | Research institute Chemicals and materials | Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Waste Management and Disposal | 2011 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial MathematicsFraunhofer Society | Kaiserslautern, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Computational Mechanics, Computational Theory and Mathematics, Mechanics of Materials | 1995 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics ResearchFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Darmstadt, Germany | Research institute Technology | Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Computational Mechanics | 1987 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software EngineeringFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Kaiserslautern, Germany | Research institute Technology | Information Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality | 1996 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and MicrosystemsFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Mainz, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Biomedical Engineering, Catalysis, Organic Chemistry | 1990 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System ReliabilityFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Darmstadt, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Polymers and Plastics | 1938 |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and PharmacologyFraunhofer-Gesellschaft | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Immunology, Rheumatology, Physiology | 2021 |
| Georg Speyer HausGeorg Speyer Haus | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Virology, Oncology | 1904 |
| Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection ResearchHelmholtz Centre for Infection Research | Würzburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Endocrinology | 2017 |
| Individual Development and Adaptive EducationIndividual Development and Adaptive Education | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology, Developmental and Educational Psychology, Statistics and Probability | 2008 |
| Institut für biologische ForschungInstitut für biologische Forschung | Darmstadt, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cancer Research, Physiology, Immunology | 1973 |
| Institute of Clinical Cancer ResearchKrankenhaus Nordwest | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Oncology, Surgery | |
| DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in EducationLeibniz Association | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Sociology and Political Science, Education, Political Science and International Relations | 1951 |
| GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social SciencesLeibniz Association | Mannheim, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Information Systems, Sociology and Political Science, Information Systems and Management | 1986 |
| Leibniz Institute for High Performance MicroelectronicsLeibniz Association | Frankfurt, Germany | Research institute Industrials and manufacturing | Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Biomedical Engineering | 1983 |
| Leibniz Institute for the German LanguageLeibniz Association | Mannheim, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Literature and Literary Theory, Artificial Intelligence, Language and Linguistics | 1964 |
| LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity GenomicsLOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Genetics | 2018 |
| Mainz Institute for Theoretical PhysicsMainz Institute for Theoretical Physics | Mainz, Germany | Research institute Nuclear | Nuclear and High Energy Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics | 2012 |
| Max Planck Institute for Brain ResearchMax Planck Society | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Molecular Biology | 1914 |
| Max Planck Institute for Empirical AestheticsMax Planck Society | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Cognitive Neuroscience, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology, Music | 2012 |
| Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung ResearchMax Planck Society | Bad Nauheim, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Molecular Biology, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine | 1931 |
| Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal TheoryMax Planck Society | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Social sciences and humanities | Political Science and International Relations, Classics, Law | 1964 |
| Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial MicrobiologyMax Planck Society | Marburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Genetics, Molecular Biology, Building and Construction | 1991 |
| Max Planck Research Unit for NeurogeneticsMax Planck Society | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Sensory Systems, Developmental Neuroscience, Molecular Biology | |
| MRB Research Center for Magnetic Resonance BavariaMRB Research Center for Magnetic Resonance Bavaria | Würzburg, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging, Spectroscopy, Nuclear and High Energy Physics | 2005 |
| Paul Ehrlich InstitutPaul Ehrlich Institut | Langen, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Immunology and Allergy, Genetics, Virology | 1896 |
| Respiratory Research InstituteRespiratory Research Institute | Wiesbaden, Germany | Research institute Healthcare and life sciences | Physiology, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Allergy | 2004 |
| Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Nature and Landscape Conservation, Atmospheric Science, Ecological Modeling | 2008 |
| Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/MSenckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | Research institute Environment and climate | Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Oceanography, Genetics | 1914 |
Countries
Organisations
- European Space Agency
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
- Helmholtz Association
- Leibniz Association
- Max Planck Society
- National Bernstein Network Computational Neuroscience
- Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research
- Technische Universität Dresden
Other leading ecosystems
- Paris and Saclay
- Beijing and Tianjin
- Washington DC and Maryland
- Greater Tokyo and Tsukuba
- Moscow
- Grenoble
- London and the Golden Triangle
- Greater Bay Area (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong)
- Shanghai and Suzhou
- Provence (ITER and Cadarache)
- Silicon Valley and the Bay Area
- Singapore
- Zurich, Basel and Aargau
- Randstad (Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden)
- Stuttgart and Karlsruhe
Questions and answers
How big is the Frankfurt and Rhine-Main R&D ecosystem?
It has 64 labs from 42 organisations, ranking number 29 worldwide in the 311 Institute Global R&D Labs Directory.
Which organisations have labs in Frankfurt and Rhine-Main?
They include Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Max Planck Society, Leibniz Association and Senckenberg - Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research.
What does the Frankfurt and Rhine-Main ecosystem specialise in?
Its main focus areas are genetics, pulmonary and respiratory medicine, molecular biology and cognitive neuroscience.
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